Three Good Options

Guides / Battery

Portable jump starters

Prices and specs checked October 8, 2026

We don't earn anything from the links on this page. If that changes, this note will say so.

Concern
The car clicks or cranks slowly on a cold morning, or won't start at all.
Cause
Cold slows the chemistry inside a car battery just when a cold engine needs more power to turn over. AAA says a battery can lose up to 35% of its strength at 32°F and up to 60% at 0°F.
Correction
A portable jump starter lets you start the car yourself in a few minutes, with no second car or cables. Then get the battery tested. A battery that needs a jump in the cold is often near the end of its life.

The three options

Your pick

For most cars, SUVs and gas pickups

NOCO Boost Plus GB40

$99.95 list price at NOCO

Rated for
Gas engines up to 6.0L, diesels up to 3.0L
Peak amps
1,000
Weight
2.4 lb with clamps
Works in
-4°F to 122°F
Recharging
USB-C, only between 32°F and 104°F
Safety
Spark-proof clamps and reverse-polarity protection

Pick it if

You drive a typical four- or six-cylinder car, an SUV, or a gas pickup with an engine up to 6.0L, and you want something small enough for a glovebox or door pocket.

Skip it if

You have a big diesel or a gas engine over 6.0L, or the car sits outside for weeks below zero. In a hard freeze, bring it inside.

GB40 on NOCO's site

Your pick

For compact cars, on a budget

NOCO Boost Sport GB20

$79.95 list price at NOCO

Rated for
Gas engines up to 4.0L. Not recommended for diesels.
Peak amps
500

Pick it if

You drive a compact car or a small four-cylinder and want the lowest price from the same maker as our main pick.

Skip it if

You have a V6, V8 or diesel, or might ever jump a friend's truck. For $20 more, the GB40 is rated for engines up to 6.0L.

Compare NOCO's Boost models

Your pick

For big trucks, diesels and frequent use

Clore Automotive Jump-N-Carry JNC660

$239.95 at Penn Tool Co.; Clore lets resellers set prices, so shop around

Starting power
1,700 peak amps, 425 cranking amps
Cables
46-inch #2 AWG welding cable with industrial clamps
Charging
Built-in automatic charger and a voltmeter that shows its own charge
Extras
12-volt outlet for accessories
Weight
18 lb
Warranty
1-year limited

Pick it if

You start big gas V8s or diesels, keep several vehicles, or want a box built for repeated use, the kind of heavy jump pack made for working shops.

Skip it if

You want something for the glovebox. It weighs 18 pounds and is meant to stay on its charger between uses. If you want lithium-light with more power, NOCO's Boost XL GB50 ($149.95) is rated for gas engines up to 7.0L and diesels up to 4.5L at 2.7 lb.

JNC660 on Clore Automotive's site

Side by side

GB40GB20JNC660
Best forMost cars and SUVsCompact carsBig trucks, diesels, frequent use
Price checked$99.95$79.95$239.95
Engine ratingGas 6.0L, diesel 3.0LGas 4.0L, no dieselNot rated by engine size; 425 cranking amps
Weight2.4 lbNot listed18 lb
TypeLithium, USB-C chargingLithiumHeavy pack with built-in wall charger

Before you buy

Peak amp numbers aren't measured the same way from brand to brand, so a cheap pack claiming 3,000 peak amps isn't necessarily stronger than a 1,000-amp one. A maker's own engine-size ratings, and cranking amps where they're listed, tell you more. That's why we compare within one maker's lineup or lean on cranking amps.

Lithium packs are light and hold a charge for months, but they lose power in deep cold and shouldn't be recharged below freezing. If you park outside through hard freezes, keep the pack inside overnight and grab it on the way out.

From the service counter

  • A jump gets you running. It doesn't fix a battery that's failing. If you've needed a jump twice in a month, have the battery and charging system tested. Most auto parts stores will do it for free.
  • After a jump, drive for a while before shutting the engine off, so the alternator can put some charge back in.
  • Look at the battery terminals. White or green crust on the posts can stop a jump from working. Clean it off, or have it cleaned, before blaming the battery.
  • Recharge the jump starter after every use and every few months in storage. A dead jump starter is just extra weight in the trunk.

Sources